How Long Does Copyright Protection Last?
U.S. Copyright Office · checked 2026-10-04
The app uses the figures and rules named on that page. It does not replace the page.
creative · official figure · reviewed 2026-10-04
Estimate a Post-1978 Copyright End Year
A work created after January 1, 1978 generally lasts for the author's life plus 70 years. A work made for hire uses 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever ends first.
What this guide helps you do
Apply the Copyright Office duration rule for works created on or after January 1, 1978.
The figure that changes the result
Life plus 70 and the work-for-hire rule are not interchangeable.
Reading the duration FAQ and comparing two end years takes about 15 minutes. Pre-1978 works are a different statute.
Who this is for
A creator or user who needs the general end year for a work created in 1978 or later.
Steps
Step 1
Use this tool only if the work was created in 1978 or later.
Step 2
For a named author, add 70 years to the year of death.
Step 3
For a work made for hire, compare publication plus 95 with creation plus 120.
Step 4
Use the earlier of those two years.
Step 5
Do not use this end year for a work published before 1978.
Worked example
An author who died in 2000 has a term through the end of 2070. A work made for hire created in 1990 and published in 2000 ends at the earlier of 2095 and 2110, which is 2095.
The term runs through the end of 2070.
- Creation year: 1990.
- Death year: 2000.
- End year: 2070.
For a work created after January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
Where this goes wrong
A 1977 creation is outside this tool. Joint authors, restored foreign works, and ownership are not decided here. Mailing a copy to yourself does not extend the term.
What the source says
Limits
The Copyright Office describes these as general rules.
Anonymous and pseudonymous works use the 95/120 rule, not life plus 70.
The tool speaks in calendar years, as the FAQ does.
This tool gives general information. It is not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change. Check the result with a licensed attorney or a legal aid office before you act.
Use the current instruction from the agency named above. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision.
Free companion app
Apply the Copyright Office duration rule for works created on or after January 1, 1978.
Open Apply the Life-Plus-70 or 95/120 Rule
Your entries stay on this device. We do not receive them.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.